WPRO News and the Associated Press
Democrat Gina Raimondo and Republican Allan Fung went after each other’s leadership in the first televised debate of the Rhode Island governor’s race, while voters also got an introduction to a wild-card third-party candidate.
Raimondo, the treasurer, called Fung’s $200-million tax-reduction plan reckless and said he “fumbled” the handling of a Cranston police department ticketing scandal. Fung said the Treasurer is beating a dead horse.
“It was one officer and we held that officer accountable and its in the process right now,” said Fung, “And our chief did resign, and I’m tired of having your Wall Street interests, your outside millionaires funding these attack ads into Rhode Island and distorting the truth and the record.”
The mayor questioned her judgment in the state’s rehiring of a firm being sued in the 38 Studios deal and says she didn’t bring the parties together in overhauling the public pension system in 2011. Raimondo said she was not in office at the time of the 38 Studios deal.
“Mayor Fung who was in office [at the time] was silent, in fact a week ago he was campaigning with Governor Carcieri the architect of this,” said Raimondo.
Moderate Party candidate Robert Healey, who is in single digits in polling, says some may say a vote for him is wasted but that voters must “choose wisely” who best represents them.
Tuesday’s debate was aired live on WPRI-TV.
